Awards & Recognition CommitteeCertification CommitteeEnvoy CommitteeRISE Advisory CommitteeWBENC National Forum
Our committee members lend their time and talent to help support the activities and initiatives of WBEC-East, with the ultimate goal of supporting women-owned businesses in our region.
Committee Eligibility
Committee membership is open to:
Certified WBEs (should be certified for at least 1 year and have a solid understanding of the benefits)
Learn more about becoming a Certified WBE
Employees of our Council of Corporate and Government Partners (Council Partners are expected to participate in a minimum of one WBEC-East committee)
Learn more about becoming a Council Partner
Successful applicants:
- Have a strong understanding of the WBENC certification process and benefits,
- Are actively engaged with WBEC-East programs and events for more than a year,
- Have the ability to dedicate time to monthly meetings,
- Are located within our network of PA, DE and south NJ.
Awards & Recognition Committee
No current committee openings
Chair: Sandy Schrauger, PPL Services
Vice Chair: Cate Heaman, Prelude Solutions
Staff Liaison(s): Steve Damweber, Taylor Tolton-Kain
Mission: This committee establishes award categories and criteria, promotes nominations, and presents awards to selected nominees. Awards open up each summer, and members should expect a heavier participation in the spring and summer months.
Meeting Schedule: Meetings occur generally the second Tuesday of each month. A special team of judges appointed by the President meets to review nominations and score applications on an annual basis in late summer.
Committee Membership: Typically 8-15 members. Term of 2 years.
Certification Committee
Currently accepting applications from Corporate Partners and WBEs who have been certified 3+ years
Mission: This committee is responsible for validating that all businesses applying for WBENC certification meet the criteria of being 51% owned, controlled, operated, and managed by a woman or women. Committee members serve anonymously, and are responsible for rendering a recommendation of certification or denial to the WBEC-East President.
Members are able to serve as application reviewers, site visitors, or both.
Staff Liaison(s): Yana Massey, Colleen LaCoss
Special Requirements: Membership on this committee requires a strong understanding of the WBENC application process and eligiblity criteria. Members must complete a 6-hour initial training (offered generally every other month) and pass an exam prior to beginning volunteer work. Individuals with a legal or finance background are encouraged to apply.
Meeting Schedule: Meetings generally occur 2 Fridays each month from 11:30-12:30 Eastern. Application reviewers are expected to participate in at least 6 meetings annually.
Site visitors are asked to provide 1-2 hours allotted to conducting site visit interviews each month.
Committee Membership: Typically 30-50 members. Membership is evergreen as long as engagement is continuous. Members can serve as either application reviewers, site visitors, or both.
Interest in joining the committee can be sent to: Yana Massey, Certification Manager, ymassey@wbeceast.com
Envoy Committee
Committee appointments for the Envoys are made by invitation only
Chair: Marian Neilson, Abator Information Services, Inc.
Vice Chair: Cate Heaman, Prelude Solutions
Staff Liaison(s): Elizabeth Walsh, Colleen LaCoss, Yana Massey
Mission: The Envoys serve as ambassadors and help certified WBEs learn how to leverage the organization and their certification. Envoys build connections by welcoming new WBEs through direct outreach and encouraging and moderating conversations at in-person WBEC-East networking events.
Special Requirements: Envoys are WBE business owners who have been certified for a number of years and who have a robust knowledge of WBENC and WBEC-East events, initatives, and resources. They must be able to serve as mentors to new WBEs by guiding them through the network and making connections.
Meeting Schedule: Envoy training is held once per calendar year. Envoys are required to attend a minimum of 50% of in-person WBEC-East events in the ambassadorship role.
Committee Membership: WBEs who meet the above criteria may be invited to apply to become an Envoy. This committee generally does not hold open applications.
Envoy Commitment Form (for invited WBEs)
Learn more about the Envoys:
RISE Advisory Committee (Reach, Inspire, Support, Empower)
No current committee openings
Co-Chairs: Amanda Rodi, Innovative Development, LLC & Dr. Pat Smith, Holmes Smith Consulting Services, Inc.
Co-Vice Chairs: Hala Shawaf Barson, VoIP Doctors & Sharon Manker, Radian
Staff Liaison(s): Colleen LaCoss, Yana Massey, Evelyn Martinez-Rodriguez, Faith Walter, Atheia Mobley
Mission: This committee is charged with developing networking, learning, and programming opportunities designed to help WBEC-East entrepreneurs rise to their full potential. Members of this committee come from all industries and backgrounds to ensure that programming is meeting the needs of all of WBEC-East’s various constituencies by:
• Reaching out to our unique communities
• Inspiring meaningful business connections
• Supporting capacity growth
• Empowering new and future entrepreneurs
Meeting Schedule: Meetings occur generally every month or as needed for program development.
Committee Membership: Typically 6-12 members. Term of 2 years.
WBENC National Forum
Committee appointments for the Forum are made by invitation only
What is the Forum?
The Forum is the voice of the WBEs at the national level. Members help to shape WBENC programming and inititives.
Want to get involved?
Forum meetings are held annually at the WBENC National Conference, and are open to all.
Forum representatives are appointed by the President, and typically consist of WBEs who have been certified for a number of years, are exceptionally active within the network at a local and national level, and are experienced in a variety of WBEC-East committees and initiatives. The Forum does not hold open applications for representatives, rather, applicants are invited after having served many years with WBEC-East.
WBEC-East Forum Representatives
Peggy Del Fabbro, M. Davis & Sons, Inc.
Barbara Bosha, Bosha Design+Communications
Cindy Towers, JuriSolutions, Inc. – Forum Leadership Team
Amanda Mortimer, Innovative Development, LLC
Carol Philp, CPI Creative, Inc.
Cate Heaman, Prelude Solutions, LLC
Jayshree Moorthy, Frontier Technologies, Inc.
Judith Zimmermann, The ArtCraft Group
Julie Copeland, Arbill
Karen Primak, IPAK
Kari Donovan, Precis Commissioning, Inc.
Katrin Hillner, PC Network Inc.
Kimberly Springsteen-Abbott, Commonwealth Capital Corp.
Kimberly Togman, Scalable Leader LLC
Lisa Frederick, Unity Printing Co.
Maria Hulitt, Strategic Contracting Inc. DBA Mindlift Group
Mary Fox Donnelly, Encompass Elements
Dr. Pat Smith, Holmes Smith Consulting Services, Inc.
Peggy Gionta, Partner’s Consulting, Inc
Vicki Lam, Promo Victory, Inc.
Vivian R. Isaak, Magnum Group